Pukka is planting 1.5 million trees with TreeSisters

So far, we've planted over 1.2 million trees around the world, with tree planting charity, TreeSisters.

November 2022

The world loses almost six million hectares of forest annually to deforestation. That's like losing an area the size of Portugal every two years. 95% of this occurs in the tropics.

Tropical forests are home to some of the planet's richest and most diverse ecosystems, with over half of the world's species residing there and packed with unique wildlife. When rainforests are cut down, they destroy many unique species' habitats and permanently reshape these ecosystems. In addition, when deforestation happens, almost all of the carbon stored in the trees and vegetation – called the ‘aboveground carbon loss' – is lost.

According to a recent study, reforestation is 'one of the best climate change solutions available today.' TreeSisters aims to fund the ethical planting of over two million trees annually across a portfolio of tropical ecosystems - supporting restoration through a reforestation revolution.

Through our donations, trees will be planted in Madagascar and Nepal. We sometimes get asked why we are not planting in the UK. Not only are a number of the ingredients that go into our teas produced here, but Madagascar and Nepal are close to the equator and are part of the tropical forest belt. Tropical forests are home to half of the Earth's plant and animal species, and the tropical forest belt is the planet's primary cooling and rain-creating mechanism. They are ecological healers, crucial for biodiversity, major carbon sinks that absorb excess atmospheric carbon that otherwise acidifies our oceans, and are weather stabilisers and intimately tied to our health and food. We cannot live without them. These are areas of the world where urgent forest restoration and conservation are vital to protect our remaining Intact Forests Landscapes.

When you buy Pukka, you are helping to reforest our world.

We began working with TreeSisters in 2017 by donating money to plant trees instead of sending Christmas cards. This has since evolved into a meaningful 1% for the Planet partnership built on a collective ambition to restore our planet.

By working with TreeSisters, we are not only planting trees but also ensuring the protection of vital habitats for endangered species such as lemurs and sea eagles. We support Indigenous and local communities by providing sustainable incomes, livelihoods, and protection against exploitation and further deforestation. And we are empowering women through long-term employment, enabling their children to go to school, often for the first time. The impact of TreeSisters' work restores the relationship between local people and local environments, ensuring protection rather than the destruction of forest landscapes.